³¹ Now David had been told, “Ahithophel^(A) is among the conspirators with Absalom.” So David prayed, “Lord, turn Ahithophel’s counsel into foolishness.”

²³ When Ahithophel saw that his advice^(A) had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown. He put his house in order^(B) and then hanged himself. So he died and was buried in his father’s tomb.

¹⁴ Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice^(A) of Hushai the Arkite is better than that of Ahithophel.”^(B) For the Lord had determined to frustrate^(C) the good advice of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster^(D) on Absalom.^(E)

¹⁵ Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven^(A) but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.^(B)

¹⁶ In that day^(M) the Egyptians will become weaklings.^(N) They will shudder with fear^(O) at the uplifted hand^(P) that the Lord Almighty raises against them. ¹⁷ And the land of Judah will bring terror to the Egyptians; everyone to whom Judah is mentioned will be terrified,^(Q) because of what the Lord Almighty is planning^(R) against them.

¹⁸ In that day^(S) five cities^(T) in Egypt will speak the language of Canaan and swear allegiance^(U) to the Lord Almighty. One of them will be called the City of the Sun.^[a](V)

¹⁹ In that day^(W) there will be an altar^(X) to the Lord in the heart of Egypt,^(Y) and a monument^(Z) to the Lord at its border. ²⁰ It will be a sign and witness^(AA) to the Lord Almighty in the land of Egypt. When they cry out to the Lord because of their oppressors, he will send them a savior^(AB) and defender, and he will rescue^(AC) them. ²¹ So the Lord will make himself known to the Egyptians, and in that day they will acknowledge^(AD) the Lord. They will worship^(AE) with sacrifices and grain offerings; they will make vows to the Lord and keep them.^{(AF) 22} The Lord will strike^(AG) Egypt with a plague;^(AH) he will strike them and heal them. They will turn^(AI) to the Lord, and he will respond to their pleas and heal^(AJ) them.

²³ In that day^(AK) there will be a highway^(AL) from Egypt to Assyria.^(AM) The Assyrians will go to Egypt and the Egyptians to Assyria. The Egyptians and Assyrians will worship^(AN) together. ²⁴ In that day^(AO) Israel will be the third, along with Egypt and Assyria,^(AP) a blessing^[b](AQ) on the earth. ²⁵ The Lord Almighty will bless^(AR) them, saying, “Blessed be Egypt my people,^(AS) Assyria my handiwork,^(AT) and Israel my inheritance.^(AU)”

²³ Now in those days the advice^(A) Ahithophel gave was like that of one who inquires of God. That was how both David^(B) and Absalom regarded all of Ahithophel’s advice.

¹⁸ Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise^(A) by the standards of this age,^(B) you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. ¹⁹ For the wisdom of this world is foolishness^(C) in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”^[a];^{(D) 20} and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”^[b](E)

²⁰ Where is the wise person?^(A) Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age?^(B) Has not God made foolish^(C) the wisdom of the world?